Minor Fictional Characters in Supervolcano

This article lists the various minor fictional characters who appear in the Supervolcano series. These characters are identified by name, but play at best a peripheral role in the series. Most were simply mentioned once, or had a very brief, unimportant speaking role that did not impact the plot, and never appeared again.

Contents

Afghan Veteran

The passenger next to Bryce Miller on his flight from O'Hare to LAX had served two tours of duty in Afghanistan before leaving the Army.[1] When the flight was forced to turn and return to O'Hare, the Afghan vet used his iPhone to find out what was happening. He said "Supervolcano. The fuck is a supervolcano?" in response to what he discovered.[2] After the plane did a successful water landing onto Branch Oak Lake, he got off and was bobbing in the water when Miller entered the lake. He and Miller were rescued by the same Nebraskan volunteer in a powerboat.[3]

Albert

Albert was a uniformed police officer with the San Atanasio police department. Two and a half years after the Yellowstone Supervolcano erupted, he and his partner Jodie were flagged down by Oscar Flores. Flores was concerned that he hadn't seen his neighbor Mrs. Mandelbaum for several days. The two broke down the door to Mrs. Mandelbaum's house and discovered her body. They called it in and Jodie met Lt. Colin Ferguson and Sgt. Gabe Sanchez in the living room when they arrived. The two detectives then went to the bedroom where Albert had remained. After the arrival of Chief Mike Pitcavage, Dr. Ishikawa, the coroner and Lucy Chen, a DNA technician, Albert returned to the living room to wait with Jodie while the others went to the bedroom to continue the investigation. Albert did return to the bedroom to announce the arrival of a TV news truck.[4]

Randall Atkins

Randall Atkins was a police lieutenant with the Mobile, Alabama Police Department. As a member of the Theft and Fraud Unit, Atkins received a telephone call from Captain Colin Ferguson of the San Atanasio, California PD concerning Bronislav Nedic. Ferguson informed Atkins that Nedic had an outstanding warrant for grand theft from stealing nearly $10,000 from his girlfriend's bank account and used it to buy into a new restaurant in Mobile. Ferguson reluctantly admitted that the girlfriend was his daughter, Vanessa but that he would have pursued the matter in any case.

Atkins asked that Ferguson send the details and he would look into it. Ferguson noticed that there was no suggestion of arrest and asked. Atkins answered that the restaurant was providing new jobs, something in short supply since the Yellowstone Supervolcano eruption and that unless Nedic committed a local crime, the Mobile Police were reluctant to do anything.[5]

Stu Ayers

(E)

Stu Ayers was a police lieutenant with the Palos Verdes Police Department. He was one of a number of police detectives on the South Bay Strangler case. One day he called Lt. Colin Ferguson of the San Atanasio PD and asked him to send him the latest electronic lab reports to his private gmail account. He apologetically explained that his captain thought he was spending too much time on the case and asked that Ferguson keep it private.[6]

Ferguson assembled the documents but became suspicious. He called the Palos Verdes PD and asked to be connected to Ayers. Ayers denied calling and the two concluded it was either a snoopy civilian or an even snoopier reporter. Ferguson then copied the elaborate directory structure of the lab report without putting any information into the files except for one. A persistent individual would eventually drill down to a file that contained three words: "Nice try, asshole." Satisfied with his work, Ferguson e-mailed it to the gmail address.[7]

Loretta Baker

(E & AFD)

Loretta Baker along with her three young daughters[8] (ages six, eight and eleven)[9] were refugees from the Yellowstone Supervolcano eruption. The four ended up in Vanessa Ferguson's tent in Camp Constitution. The girls were quickly bored without video games or TV and went stir crazy, fighting day and night. Vanessa lined up at the Camp Administration Building to complain and eventually saw a FEMA representative. She made her complaint and asked that either the Bakers be moved or her. The representative said it would not be easy to make changes and hinted that sexual favors would help get things done. Vanessa initially refused.[10] but later relented. However, after she was moved to a new tent, Vanessa backed out of the deal. Micah Husak put pressure on her by moving an even worse family, with four rambunctious little boys, into her new tent. Vanessa gave in and began having sexual relations with Husak every couple of weeks. The new family was moved out and Vanessa's tent had some semblance of peace.[11]

Rudabeh Barazani

(TFA)

Rudabeh Barazani was the manager of a Vons Supermarket grocery store in San Atanasio, California. Several years after the Yellowstone Supervolcano had erupted, her store was robbed by a gunman. As she reported to Capt. Colin Ferguson, the man had filled a hand-carry basket that the grocery provided customers with cans of hash, chicken and tuna and brought them to Carmela, a checker at the store. He set the full basket in front of her rather than take the items out and when Carmela asked he empty the basket, he pulled a gun instead. He demanded she hand over all the cash in her register which she did and then left with the money and basket. As he exited the building, he fired a shot through the window to discourage anyone from chasing him.[12]

Barazani described the man as a white man or Hispanic in his fifties with grey hair receding at the temples, a grey mustache and chin beard. He was medium-sized and dressed in khakis and a denim jacket. He escaped on an adult sized tricycle with a wire basket big enough to hold the grocery basket. Ferguson had his partner Sgt. Gabe Sanchez radio the description in. They got lucky as a bicycle patrolman spotted and arrested a suspect matching the description.[13]

Bhattacharya

(AFD)

Doctor Bhattacharya worked at the medical clinic in Guilford, Maine. Two plus years after the Yellowstone Supervolcano erupted, he treated Rob Ferguson for an accidental gunshot wound in his leg. Dr. Bhattacharya gave Ferguson a local anesthetic then cleaned and sutured the wound. Fortunately it was a clean through and through in the muscle of Ferguson's calf so would heal well. He gave Ferguson antibiotics and painkillers for when the local wore off and lent him some crutches to use as the wound healed.[14]

Leonard Birnbaum

(E, AFD)

Leonard Birnbaum was a dentist in San Atanasio, California and called himself one of the best in the South Bay region. He was married to Miriam and had one daughter, Kelly. When Kelly finally got married to Colin Ferguson, they were pleased since they liked the man and had thought their daughter would be an old maid. Given this, they went all out on the wedding since they would foot the bill despite Kelly wanting to keep it simple.[15]

About two years later, Leonard was pleased to hear from Colin that Kelly had given birth to Deborah Michelle Ferguson, a granddaughter. He shouted "Mazel tov!" at the news and told Miriam who burst into tears of joy.[16]

Miriam Birnbaum

(E, AFD)

Miriam Birnbaum was a housewife in San Atanasio, California, married to Leonard Birnbaum, a dentist with one daughter, Kelly. When Kelly finally got married to Colin Ferguson, they were pleased since they liked the man and had thought their daughter would be an old maid. Given this, they went all out on the wedding since they would foot the bill despite Kelly wanting to keep it simple. Miriam became emotional on the wedding day, weeping tears of joy despite it messing up her makeup.[17]

About two years later, Colin telephoned that Kelly had given birth to Deborah Michelle Ferguson, a granddaughter. He spoke with Leonard who shouted "Mazel tov!" at the news and when he told told Miriam, she burst into tears of joy.[18]

Jay Black

(AFD)

Jay Black was a co-worker of Bryce Miller at the Los Angeles Dept. of Water and Power. He was a single, balding, fortyish computer analyst and programmer who started his day with a sugar rush from a can of Mountain Dew and continued to drink it throughout the day. Miller stuck to coffee from the machine by the copier.[19]

Professor Bolger

(E)

Professor Bolger taught Marshall Ferguson's creative writing class in Santa Barbara. Not surprisingly, he made his students write but, in addition to grading the stories, he made them submit them to actual publishers.[20] To Ferguson's surprise, one of his stories, "Well, Why Not?", was bought by New Fictions for $327.00.[21] For this, Bolger gave Ferguson an A for the course. Bolger also met with Ferguson prior to graduation to encourage him to continue writing and submitting his work. He explained that writing was a good trade in difficult times with low overhead and something that could be pursued on a part-time basis to supplement one's income.[22]

Emeric Brody

(TFA)

Emeric Brody was a professor of economics from Johns Hopkins University. Kelly Ferguson watched his interview on a Saturday morning television news show, wherein he discussed the underlying causes of the ongoing power shortage.[23]

Caleb

(AFD)

Caleb owned and cooked at Caleb's Kitchen in Guilford, Maine. After the Yellowstone Supervolcano had erupted, he managed to stay in business unlike the local Subway because he was less dependent on outside supplies. He raised chickens and had a couple of pigs so cooked more eggs and pork. In Rob Ferguson's opinion, this improved the overall level of his cuisine,[24] especially after Caleb added moose stew and venisonburgers to the menu.[25]

Carl

(AFD)

Carl was a used car salesman in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. After the Yellowstone Supervolcano had erupted, the dealership fell on hard times since the residents had lost a significant amount of income and gasoline was very expensive and hard to come by. He was pleased to sell Vanessa Ferguson a used Toyota even if she drove a hard bargain. However, Carl got some back due to her having an expired Colorado driver's license. He went and got his manager who charged Ferguson an "out-of-state identity-confirmation fee" of a thousand dollars. Ferguson realized it was a bribe but had little choice but to agree to it. She did ask for a full tank of gasoline which Carl agreed to before the manager said anything. While the manager finished up the paperwork, she sent Carl out to fill up the car which he did.[26]

Carmela

(TFA)

Carmela was a checker at a Vons Supermarket grocery store in San Atanasio, California. Several years after the Yellowstone Supervolcano had erupted, she was robbed at gun-point. A man had filled a hand-carry basket that the grocery provided customers with cans of hash, chicken and tuna and brought them to Carmela. He set the full basket in front of her rather than take the items out and when Carmela asked he empty the basket, he pulled a gun instead. He demanded she hand over all the cash in her register which she did and then left with the money and basket. As he exited the building, he fired a shot through the window to discourage anyone from chasing him.

Carmela was terrified by the incident but was comforted by her store manager and gave a statement to Capt. Colin Ferguson when he investigated the robbery.[27]

Claudia

(E)

Claudia was the chairperson of Susan Ruppelt's PhD thesis committee. Ruppelt had a high opinion of Claudia and had come specifically to UCLA in order to study under her. Nevertheless, the stress of preparing to defend her thesis drove Ruppelt crazy and made her doubt Claudia. She confided in her boyfriend Bryce Miller who told her it was only natural to be nervous but also told her that the committee really did want her to do well, giving the example of his own chair, Elmer Towers.[28]

Cedric Curtis

(AFD)

Cedric Curtis was a career criminal in the South Bay town of San Atanasio, California. Some two and a half years after the Yellowstone Supervolcano erupted, he was arrested for robbing a Circle K convenience store at gunpoint. He was taken to the San Atanasio police station where he was interviewed by Lt. Colin Ferguson and Sgt. Gabe Sanchez. Curtis waived his Miranda rights and confessed to pointing a pistol at Ahmed Leghari, the store clerk. However, he also claimed his gun wasn't loaded. Privately, Ferguson thought it was a stupid thing to do since many convenience-store clerks were themselves armed with the gun commonly in a drawer under the register.[29]

Dave (TV Reporter)

(E)

Dave was a TV reporter for a local station in the Los Angeles area. He attended the murder scene of Maria Peterfalvy and was part of the pack that mobbed Lt. Colin Ferguson. He asked the pompous question "How long will you let the Strangler continue his terrorization of women throughout this broad area of Los Angeles County?" Ferguson had expected a reporter to ask such a loaded question and might have viewed it more seriously if Dave had not mis-pronounced the victims name a "Mrs. Peterfalk" despite his having pronounced it carefully and spelled it out to the reporters.[30]

Ferguson, with cold politeness restated the victim's name and spelled it again. It took Dave a few minutes to realize that he had been mocked and so responded angrily with a question regarding the police's incompetence. He was saved from Ferguson's rejoinder by the arrival of the coroner Dr. Ishikawa. The pack of reporters then decended on the doctor.[31]

EDD Clerk

(AFD)

When Louise Ferguson lost her job, she went to the Torrance offices of the CaliforniaEmployment Development Department to collect her unemployment benefits. One EDD Clerk she dealt with was a prim white man with a neat gray mustache. On one occasion the clerk had to deal with an Asian woman who had little English who was ahead of Ferguson in the line. Eventually the clerk asked the other clerks in the office if they understood the woman. Eventually that was straightened out and the line moved forward.

When it was Ferguson's turn, the clerk asked her to produce evidence that she had been "actively seeking employment during the past fortnightly period". Ferguson was prepared and produced copies of a number of application letters. The clerk carefully recorded this, both on the computerized system and, given the erratic availability of power since the Yellowstone Supervolcano eruption, on a file card. After he would either press a key on the computer and print out a check or use a mechanical gadget that dated back to the seventies if the power was out.[33]

JerWilliam Ellis

(E)

JerWilliam Ellis was a young African-American living in the projects on Imperial Street in Los Angeles. He became a criminal, serving several years in juvenile detention for armed robbery.[35]

He was identified by a San Atanasio Police Officer in a liquor store surveillance video provided by the store clerk[36] and became the prime suspect in the murder of another liquor store operator the previous year.[37] He was detained and locked-up pending trial for three counts of armed robbery and one count of first-degree murder.[38]

Marie Fabianski

(AFD)

Marie Fabianski was a field reporter for CNN. During the winter three years after the Yellowstone Supervolcano eruption, she was assigned to find and interview retired professor Jim Farrell somewhere in Maine. She, a cameraman and a writer traveled up from Portland, Maine by two dogsleds to interview the so called "tsar of the new Siberia". They came across Rob Ferguson, out hunting for moose, who told them Farrell was in Guilford and offered to introduce them if they gave him a lift back to town. Fabianski agreed and Ferguson directed them to the Trebor Mansion Inn where the professor was staying.[39]

Fabianski met Farrell in the Inn's parlor where they sat side by side on a couch. However, the interview did not go the way Fabianski expected or wanted since Farrell had a mind of his own and was clever enough to mix her up. In frustration, Fabianski gestured to the cameraman to stop filming and announced there wasn't much of a story there.[40]

Filipina Liquor Store Clerk

(E)

Lt. Colin Ferguson and Sgt. Gabriel Sanchez investigated a liquor store robbery where the Filipina Store Clerk had trouble understaning their English. She explained in broken English that the robber threatened her, she opened the cash drawer and put the money on the counter, he grabbed it and ran and she called the police. Colin had to pantomime a mask when she didn't understand what he asked and she became upset when she learned that the police thought it might be the same robber who had previously murdered a different liquor store operator.[41]

Oscar Flores

(AFD)

Oscar Flores lived in a rundown part of San Atanasio, California. Two and a half years after the Yellowstone Supervolcano eruption, he became concerned about Mrs. Mandelbaum, one of his neighbors. He hadn't seen her in a few days so he flagged down a patrolling police car. The officers broke down the door and after cautioning Flores not to follow them, entered the house. They found Mrs. Mandelbaum dead and called the station. Lt. Colin Ferguson and Sgt. Gabe Sanchez responded. Lt. Ferguson briefly interviewed Flores on the front porch, then after repeating the warning not to follow them in, he and Sgt. Sanchez entered the house.[42]

Stella Garcia

(AFD)

Stella Garcia was an employee of the Department of Water and Power in Los Angeles. She administered the "assessment instrument" which Bryce Miller took when he applied for a grant writing position. She entered the exam room (a closed off part of a lunchroom) shortly before the 8:00 AM start time. She instructed the applicants to turn off their cell phones and place them, face down, on the table before them. She then distributed the exams face down in front of each applicant with the order not to turn them over until she told them to do so. She started the test at eight sharp but did give a booklet to one applicant who strolled in at half past eight. Any applicant who finished early was allowed to hand in their booklet but had to leave the room afterwards. Miller finished at about 9:20, turned in his booklet and left.[43]

Mort Greenbaum

Gun Shop Clerk

(E)

When Vanessa Ferguson fled Denver after the Yellowstone Supervolcano erupted, she stopped in Pueblo, Colorado to fuel her car. She saw a gun shop and bought a snub-nosed .38 revolver from the clerk for protection. Before he sold her the pistol, he asked if she knew how to use it. He was satisfied by her assertion that she had been taught by her father, a police officer. He had her fill out about "five pounds of forms" and, given the emergency, used his own judgment instead of the background check he couldn't do because the phone lines and internet were down. He also sold her a couple of boxes of cartridges and gave her the advise that while the gun could get her out of some tight spots, it would be better not to get into them in the first place.[45]

Farid Hariri

(TFA)

Farid Hariri worked as a cashier at a check-cashing place in San Atanasio, California. One day a robber entered and pointed an AK-47 at him. Hariri complied with the robber's demands since the bulletproof glass was designed to handle pistol rounds but wouldn't stand up to military rifle bullets. When questioned by Capt. Colin Ferguson how he knew it was an AK-47, Hariri replied that he had carried one in Lebanon, 25 years earlier, and could still field-strip it in his sleep.[46]

Harvey Harriman

(E)

Professor Harvey Harriman was Bryce Miller's thesis chairperson. Shortly after Miller returned from Lincoln, Nebraska, he completed his dissertation and dropped off the three customary copies in Harriman's office. The two then discussed Miller's future prospects. Harriman confessed the job situation in classics departments were "difficult" especially after the Yellowstone Supervolcano eruption but had been scarce even before then. Miller acknowledged this and confessed he would take anything remotely related whether teaching Western Civ at a community college or Latin at a Catholic high school. Harriman agreed with the necessity ("the wolf at the door is a harsh taskmaster") but also that it was a shame that Miller would have to turn his back on what he worked so hard to accomplish.[47]

When Miller applied for a Latin and history teaching position at Junipero High School, Prof. Harriman provided a good reference for him to the school.[48]

Heather

(AFD)

Heather was a uniformed police officer with the San Atanasio PD. She and her partner responded to a 9-1-1 call at Marseille Gardens and discover the body of Eiko Ryan, a tenant there. Heather guarded the door to Mrs. Ryan's apartment until Lt. Colin Ferguson arrived on the scene. He noticed she look a little green and asked if this was her first Strangler case to which she agreed. Lt. Ferguson entered the apartment to examine the crime scene but a short time later Heather warned him that media reporters had arrived and wanted to talk to him.[49]

While Heinrich's English was good, the stress of the situation had him and Skrtel slip in the occasional German phrase during their telephone conversations. He was also a stickler for the rules, reminding Skrtel that it was against regulations to set fires in trash cans at the park even if it were to signal evacuation helicopters.

Hipster with String-brim Fedora

(AFD)

On one occasion that Louise Ferguson went to the Torrance offices of the CaliforniaEmployment Development Department, a twenty-something hipster wearing a string-brim fedora stood in line immediately ahead of her. He also wore loud houndstooth jacket which went beyond hip to tacky. As they waited for their turn with the clerk, the hipster pulled out an airline-drink-sized bottle of vodka and quickly gulped it down. This was against the rules but Ferguson wasn't going to raise a fuss unless he became rowdy. Ferguson didn't have any complaints with him as he had his paperwork in order and was quickly processed by the clerk allowing her to take her turn.[51]

Jane

(E)

Jane was a fan of Squirt Frog and the Evolving Tadpoles and attended their concert at Neptune's Resort in New York. Afterwards she went to get a CD cover autographed at a table set up in the club's anteroom. She was almost illegally pretty and caught the attention of Rob Ferguson, especially since she didn't have a hulking boyfriend looming behind her. When Ferguson heard her name, he was tempted to say he was Tarzan but refrained. Instead he invited her over to the band's side of the table and for her to sit on his lap since there wasn't a spare chair. Rather than slapping him, Jane smiled, sat down and began running her fingers through his hair.[52]

Victor Jennings

(TFA)

Victor Jennings was a middle aged white man who was unable to find employment after the Yellowstone Supervolcano erupted. Hungry and desperate, he tried to rob a Vons Supermarket in San Atanasio, California. He filled a hand-carry basket that the grocery provided customers with cans of hash, chicken and tuna and brought them to Carmela, a checker at the store. He set the full basket in front of her rather than take the items out and when Carmela asked he empty the basket, he pulled a gun instead. He demanded she hand over all the cash in her register which she did and then left with the money and basket. As he exited the building, he fired a shot through the window to discourage anyone from chasing him.[53]

Carmela and her manager Rudabeh Barazani reported the robbery to Capt. Colin Ferguson and Sgt. Gabe Sanchez. They gave a description and that he escaped on a an adult sized tricycle with a wire basket big enough to hold the grocery basket. Sanchez radioed in the description and a bicycle patrolman spotted and arrested Jennings. Back at the police station, the two interviewed Jennings who became happier when he realized he would be feed while incarcerated.[54]

Capt. Ferguson wasn't sure the DA would charge and prosecute Jennings as he stole mostly food even if he had used a firearm since no one had been physically harmed and the state was chronically short of money to run prisons.[55] This proved correct and Jennings was released without trial but cautioned to not re-offend. However, he tried to rob a check-cashing place and was arrested at the scene by a bicycle patrolwoman.[56]

Jenny

(E, TFA)

Jenny was a coed at Santa Barbara that Marshall Ferguson was seeing. One evening, shortly after the Yellowstone Supervolcano erupted, the two watched a sunset from Marshall's apartment. It was unusually colorful which Marshall attributed to the dope they had shared but Jenny realized it was due to the ash the volcano had thrown into the atmosphere. Afterwards, they retired to the bedroom for sex.[57]

Jodie

(AFD)

Jodie was a uniformed police officer with the San Atanasio police department. Two and a half years after the Yellowstone Supervolcano erupted, she and her partner Albert were flagged down by Oscar Flores. Flores was concerned that he hadn't seen his neighbor Mrs. Mandelbaum for several days. The two broke down the door to Mrs. Mandelbaum's house and discovered her body. They called it in and Jodie met Lt. Colin Ferguson and Sgt. Gabe Sanchez in the living room when they arrived. She directed them to the bedroom while remaining in the living room. Shortly, Chief Mike Pitcavage, Dr. Ishikawa, the coroner and Lucy Chen, a DNA technician arrived and spoke with Jodie in the living room. Ferguson was attracted by the sound and returned there from the bedroom to also greet them. The group, minus Jodie, then headed back to the bedroom to continue the investigation.[59]

Joe-Bob

Ida Jones

(E)

Ida Jones was married to Wes Jones for over forty years when the Yellowstone Supervolcano erupted. The couple were neighbors of Colin Ferguson and watched the Ferguson children grow up. Vanessa Ferguson had moved to Denver which was much more severely affected by the eruption. Ida, a devout Methodist, prayed for her safety. When Colin failed to hear from her, Wes remarked that Ida needed to pray harder. While Wes was a religious skeptic, the two got along since Ida believed in living her beliefs through good works rather than trying to push them onto people.[61]

Jud

(E)

Jud was a Denver newscaster. After the Yellowstone Supervolcano rained ash down on the city, he was advised not to come to the studio, as the commute was too dangerous.[62]

Margot Keller

(E)

Margot Keller was a 73 year old widow living alone in her tract house in Torrance when she was throttled and raped. The MO fitted that of the South Bay Strangler and DNA samples matched that of the Strangler. Captain Nels Jensen was in charge of the investigation for the Torrance PD and had a meeting with the other South Bay investigators after receiving the pathology reports.[63]

Ahmed Leghari

(AFD)

Ahmed Leghari was a convenience-store clerk at a Circle K in San Atanasio, California. Some two and a half years after the Yellowstone Supervolcano erupted, he was robbed at gunpoint by a young black man with a shaved head and a goatee. Leghari was unharmed and the surveillance camera clearly showed the gunman's face leading to the arrest of Cedric Curtis.[64]

Lemuel

(E)

Lemuel was a former boyfriend of Vanessa Ferguson. The two had dated in high school and continued to do so after Vanessa went to college until she dumped him when she met Bryce Miller. Never-the-less, Lemuel helped Vanessa load her U-Haul truck when she moved to Denver. Marshall Ferguson thought him a shlub but he proved to be less of a dud, over the course of the day, then Marshall remembered.[65]

Josefina Linares

(E, AFD)

Josefina Linares was a secretary at the San Atanasio PD. While of Hispanic background, she went out of her way to show how American she was and answered to Josie rather than Josefina. Lt. Colin Ferguson reflected that he probably knew more Spanish than she did when she delivered a pile of DNA printouts for him to examine and that her family had been in the U.S. longer than his.[66]

After Chief Mike Pitcavage committed suicide due to the arrest of his son Darren for felony drug-dealing which Lt. Ferguson had instigated, Linares was one of the minority that took his side. Many in the department, both police and civilian, blamed Ferguson for the death but Linares thought that it was the fault of the Pitcavages. She believed that if the Chief hadn't protected his son from legal trouble, he might have straightened out his life. Instead, Darren got into trouble too deep for the Chief to help him and so killed himself in shame.[67]

Lucas

(AFD)

Lucas was a friend of Marshall Ferguson from high school days. Like Marshall, he was unemployed and living in the family home with his dad after graduating. The Yellowstone Supervolcano eruption made the employment situation even harder than it had been while the erratic electrical power supply made most online entertainments impossible. Lucas' father dug out an old board game of Diplomacy that he had played when he was in high school and gave it to Lucas. He, Marshall and five other friends would get together at Lucas' house on weekends to play since the game took all afternoon and into the evening.[68]

Lucille

(E)

Lucille was a volunteer at a makeshift Red Cross refugee center in Garden City, Kansas. She processed Vanessa Ferguson's paperwork when she arrived but refused to allow her to bring in Pickles, her cat. Lucille told Vanessa she could either turn the cat over to the animal shelter or set him free outside. When Vanessa protested and offered to feed Pickles from her own rations, Lucille said there was no place for a cat to relieve itself and that it might scratch or bite someone else; so no pets allowed. Vanessa elected to release Pickles outside since she suspected the shelter would be overcrowded and so would be able to only put down the new animals. When she returned, Lucille assigned her to classroom K-1 to stay in and gave her an authorization card for meals.[69]

Luke

(E)

Luke was in a Red Cross refuge facility (a re-purposed high school) in Garden City, Kansas after the Yellowstone Supervolcano erupted when Vanessa Ferguson was assigned to the same room. She thought his class clown routine was lame but for once kept quiet.[70] Later that day, she met up with him in the hallway after using the washroom facilities. Luke indicated he knew how to hotwire a car and wanted to do so to get out of town to someplace better. Ferguson was interested in going with him and offered to help pay for gas. He replied there were other ways to pay while licking his lips. Ferguson was repulsed and told him to forget it. Luke persisted until Ferguson pulled a revolver from her purse. He backed off giving her the distinct impression he had had a gun pulled on him before.[71]

Luke disappeared two days later. The longer Ferguson stayed cooped up in the refugee center the more she regretted her decision not to trade some half-hearted sex for freedom.[72]

Sophie Lundgren

(TFA)

Sophie Lundgren had once been a Spanish teacher at San Atanasio High. Years after the Supervolcano eruption, she decided to move to Copala, Mexico, not far from Acapulco, due to climate change. She hired former students Marshall Ferguson, Paul Werber, and Janine Werber to help her move. This was a momentous encounter for Marshall and Janine. As Janine's marriage to Paul was on the rocks, she left him and began a relationship with Marshall[73]

Malcolm

(E)

Malcolm was a uniformed police officer with the San Atanasio, California Police Department. Over a year before the Yellowstone Supervolcano erupted, he responded to a call from Sunbreeze Apartments where neighbors of Mildred Szymanski were concerned that they hadn't seen her for a few days. He and the other officers discovered her body in her apartment with obvious signs of violence and called Lt. Colin Ferguson who was the lead investigator of the South Bay Strangler cases in town. Shortly after Ferguson arrived and before he began his examination, a TV van arrived. Ferguson ordered Malcolm to keep the media outside the building.[74]

Mariska

(E)

Mariska was a Denver newscaster. After the Yellowstone Supervolcano rained ash down on the city, she was advised not to come to the studio, as the commute was too dangerous.[75]

Meteorologist Mark

(E)

Meteorlogist Mark was a Denver newscaster. After the Yellowstone Supervolcano rained ash down on the city, he was advised not to come to the studio, as the commute was too dangerous.[76]

Josh McCann

(AFD)

Josh McCann was the mayor of Guilford, Maine when the Yellowstone Supervolcano erupted. As well, he ran a local independent hardware store that was only a step above being a junk shop. However, the eruption led to junk and people knowing what to do with it being prized much more since Maine north and west of I-95 was isolated for much of the year.

One of his duties as mayor was to preside over town meetings in the local Episcopalian church since it was the only structure big enough to hold the crowd. At one such meeting, he turned the floor over to Jim Farrell, a failed congressional candidate and retired history professor, to describe what the town would have to do to survive the coming winter. After Farrell finished speaking, the rest of the agenda seemed even duller in comparison.[77]

McClintock

(AFD)

Officer McClintock was with the Hawthorne PD. Just over three years after the Yellowstone Supervolcano erupted, he was killed in the line of duty during a shoot-out with a bank robber. He left behind a wife and two young sons. Since he died from a shotgun blast to the face, the formal police funeral was closed casket. Lt. Colin Ferguson attended in full uniform as the representative for the San Atanasio PD. After the funeral he and the other officers expressed their condolences to the widow and then milled about talking to one another. Ferguson was confronted by Sgt. Jack Winters of the LAPD for previously humiliating him two years earlier but Winters soon decided not to make a scene.[78]

Jerry Michaelson

(AFD)

Jerry Michaelson was a local TV reporter in San Atanasio, California. When Eiko Ryan was murdered, he went to the scene and interviewed Lt. Colin Ferguson. Michaelson demanded to know if it were a South Bay Strangler case. Lt. Ferguson was reluctant to confirm this until the DNA analysis was done but did say the crime scene matched previous cases. Michaelson then demanded to know when the police would catch the monster terrorizing seniors in a histrionic and over the top manner. Ferguson, with ill concealed impatients, replied that the police were doing their best and if Michaelson had any good ideas he would be happy to hear them. Michaelson sputtered and the news cut back to the studio. Louise Ferguson happened to catch the broadcast while in the hospital recovery room after giving birth to James Henry.[79]

Military Bus Driver

(E)

About a month after Vanessa Ferguson had arrived in Garden City, Kansas, she boarded a olive drab military bus with a soldier for a driver. He informed her and the other refugees that they were to be taken to Camp Constitution, a newly established refugee camp between Muskogee and Fayetteville. The driver didn't have to make due with a surgical mask like the refugees but had a gas mask to keep out the volcanic dust. He also had a M16 which Vanessa hadn't noticed until a disgruntled resident fired a couple of shots at the bus and the driver fired back. The resident broke a bus window and punctured a side panel but did not hit anyone while the driver had hoped to only force the shooter to keep his head down rather than hit him.[80]

Barbara Miller

(E)

Barbara Miller was Bryce's mother. She was widowed when Bryce was twelve and never remarried. While Bryce loved her he didn't take her seriously although he did try and take her feelings into consideration. After the Yellowstone Supervolcano erupted, Bryce was marooned in Lincoln, Nebraska for a while. When flights resumed, he was met at LAX by both Susan Ruppelt and his mother who Susan had invited along. Barbara invited Bryce and Susan for supper and while Bryce wanted to get intimate with Susan, he didn't want to hurt his mother's feelings and so accepted the dinner invitation.[81]

Bryce would occasionally sell a poem done in an Ancient Greek pastoral style to a journal which paid in copies. He would give one copy to Barbara who would put it on a bookshelf to show off to aunts and uncles.[82]

Stan Miyamoto

(E)

Stan Miyamoto was a short and stocky, middle aged Polynesian-American who owned and operated a Polynesian themed restaurant in San Atanasio. One evening, Lt. Colin Ferguson brought Kelly Birnbaum for dinner to celebrate their engagement. Miyamoto came over to say hello and to thank Ferguson again for catching a couple of armed robbers who had held up the place. When Miyamoto found out the couple were celebrating their engagement, he offered dinner on the house but Ferguson had to turn him down due to police regulations on gratuities. Miyamoto thought it stupid, that the city council should get into an uproar over more important things. However, Miyamoto complied by presenting a bill. He was stubborn, though, and got his own by providing enough food for six so Ferguson and Birnbaum received their leftovers in Styrofoam boxes for several lunches and dinners.

Miyamoto's son had graduated in the same San Atanasio High school class as Ferguson's daughter Vanessa.[84]

Miyoshi

(AFD & TFA)

Captain Miyoshi was with the San Atanasio PD when Chief Mike Pitcavage killed himself. Unfortunately, he was off on sick-leave for stomach-cancer surgery and so could not take over even on an interim basis.[85] By the time the fuss over this and the South Bay Strangler case had settled, he had recovered enough to be appointed temporarily while a search for a permanent appointment could be made.[86]

Vic Moretti

(AFD)

Vic Moretti was a teacher at Junipero High School. He interviewed Bryce Miller on behalf of the school when the latter applied for a position teaching Latin there. He mentioned to Miller that they had several applicants who had faked their degrees and hoped to bluff their way through Latin. This meant the school would have to check his credentials carefully. However, Miller was legitimate and the interview went well so Miller was hired.[87]

Later, Ferguson came down to the front desk to ask about places in town to eat dinner. Morton recommended the "Stone of Accord" restaurant which was half a block from the hotel. Ferguson spent twenty minutes chatting her up before he returned to his room.[89]

National Guardsman

(AFD)

During the second spring after the eruption, the Arkansas River flooded due to ash and dust clogging its flow, threatening Camp Constitution. FEMA was forced to evacuate the refugees using units of the National Guard to maintain order. When Vanessa Ferguson and her tent were evacuated, she noticed a smaller line at more modern buses. She asked a National Guardsman what that was about and he replied they were volunteers for reclamation parties salvaging what they could from the countryside. She asked how she could join them and he replied she should have signed up weeks ago. She said in a low, breathy voice that she would do anything to get on one of those buses. The guardsman got the message and took her aside to an empty tent where she gave him oral sex. After they were finished, he allowed her to line up for a reclamation party bus.[90]

Ashley Pagliarulo

(AFD)

Ashley Pagliarulo was a lawyer who became a refugee when the Yellowstone Supervolcano erupted. She ended up in Camp Constitution and got out as a member of a reclamation party salvaging goods in Kansas under the Abandoned Property Act. She was a member of the same crew as Vanessa Ferguson and was as argumentative. Both were under Merv Saunders who put up with it only so far. On one trip she declared that what they were doing would normally be considered theft. Saunders calmly replied that the Act authorized their actions but Pagliarulo retorted it would never stand up to judicial review. When Saunders asked why she was on the crew if she felt that way, she replied she would go crazy if she stayed in the refugee camp. This satisfied Saunders but when Pagliarulo continued to bicker, he warned her that she could always go back into a camp.[92]

Pete

(AFD)

Pete was a patrolman with the San Atanasio PD. He and his partner responded to a 9-1-1 call at Marseille Gardens and discover the body of Eiko Ryan, a tenant there. Pete did a preliminary interview with Kiyoko Nagumo, Mrs. Ryan's sister, who discovered the body and made the emergency call. He was somewhat disgruntled when Lt. Colin Ferguson arrived on the scene and repeated the questioning of Mrs. Nagumo but didn't say anything since he was outranked.[93]

Police Public Information Officer

(TFA)

The Police Public Information Officer of the San Atanasio PD attempted to maintain order when the department held a news conference on the identification of the South Bay Strangler but the reporters began shouting questions as soon as Lt. Colin Ferguson, the lead investigator, entered the room. She did use her microphone to overpower them until Dr. Ishikawa and Lucy Chen arrived. Ferguson then conducted the conference in a no nonsense style for the remainder of the allocated time. The PIO ended the conference thanking the reporters. Afterwards, she complemented the three on how they handled themselves and let San Atanasio look not too bad over the case.[94]

Selma Rosenblatt

(E)

Selma Rosenblatt was an academic adviser at the UC, Santa Barbara campus. One day she met with Marshall Ferguson who wished to change his major from film studies to creative writing. After reviewing his transcript, Rosenblatt commented with sardonic admiration that she didn't see one like that every day. Ferguson had been changing his major every few years and his transcript reflected this, a high number of hours but not enough in any one field to graduate.[95]

When Ferguson told Rosenblatt of his latest change in majors, she fed the change into her software and found that it would allow him to stay enrolled for an extra couple of quarters. She offered mock congratulations and the comment that it might be better for the state finances if he remained a paying student rather than be out collecting unemployment or welfare. She inputted the change and then told him to scoot, so she could take the time to help someone who really needed advice.[96]

Lupe Sandoval

(E)

Lupe Sandoval was a seventy-four year old woman murdered in San Atanasio a week before Maria Peterfalvy. She came home unexpectedly and surprised a burglar who fire three shots into her, killing her instantly. As Lt. Colin Ferguson sadly reflected after arresting a young punk, not all the little old ladies killed in San Atanasio were the work of the South Bay Strangler.[97]

Sasha Smyslovsky

(AFD)

Sasha Smyslovsky was a student at Junipero High School. He was in Bryce Miller's Latin class and unlike others in the class, he had no troubles with Latin cases since he spoke Russian at home. Instead, his problem was with vocabulary since, unlike Hispanic or even English speakers, Russian had few cognates from it.[100]

Survivalist

(AFD)

During one of Vanessa Ferguson's salvage crew trips into Kansas, they came across what appeared to be an abandoned farmhouse that had large warning signs declaring "KEEP OUT!" and "TRESPASSERS WILL BE VIOLATED!" Closer to the farmhouse was another sign warning of mines in German: "ACHTUNG! MINEN!". It appeared to be a hideaway of a survivalist, or as Ferguson put it a "Neo-Nazi shithead" given his use of German in the sign.

The crew were willing to move on but Merv Saunders, the supervisor, had orders to make contact with any survivors so he began to move toward the building. After a few steps a full sized machine gun opened up with tracers not nearly high enough overhead. A loudspeaker then told him to get off the property or he would be shot. Clearly the survivalist had survived whether from stashed food, farming or freelance scavenging. Saunders was satisfied with his attempt to make contact and had the crew head out to the next farm.[101]

Travis Suzuki

(E, AFD)

Dr. Travis Suzuki was Louise Ferguson's OB-GYN when she became pregnant with James Henry. Her previous doctor, when she was pregnant with her threeolderchildren, was long retired and Dr. Suzuki was younger than she was, brusque and efficient.[102] His appearance and behaviour did remind her of Mr. Sulu from Star Trek and she was satisfied with his care.[103]

Dr. Suzuki did question Louise about her ability to care for her newborn, especially since Teo Acosta had abandoned her. He was especially concerned whether Louise would take out her frustrations with Teo on his child but Louise's answers did satisfy him. He outlined her options, pointing out that an abortion in the first trimester could be done with minimal risk of complications but would get more difficult after that. He also indicated that her pregnancy was progressing well but that at her age, complications could occur at any time and not to hesitate to go to the hospital if she felt it necessary. He did imply that he thought it unusual for her to have a baby at her age but didn't say or recommend anything either way.[104]

Oscar Svanda

(AFD)

Oscar Svanda, along with his wife Glinda, were the property managers at Marseille Gardens in San Atanasio, California. One day he was approached by Kiyoko Nagumo who was concerned that her sister Eiko Ryan failed to show at lunch and did not answer her telephone. Mr. Svanda knew Mrs. Nagumo and so agreed to unlock the apartment door to check on her. The two discovered Mrs. Ryan's body and Mrs. Nagumo called 9-1-1. Mr. Svanda later gave his statement to Sergeant Gabriel Sanchez.[105]

Malcolm Talbott

(E)

Malcolm Talbott was the general manager who ran Amalgamated Humanoids. When the Yellowstone Supervolcano erupted, the resulting earthquake hit Denver causing minor damage to the office building and cutting off the power. Talbott ordered the building evacuated and sent the employees home when it was clear that the power wasn't coming back on that day.[106]

Terri

(E, AFD)

Terri was a nurse at Dr. Travis Suzuki's office. She took charge of Louise Ferguson when she came in for a check up during her pregnancy. Terri led Louise to an examination room where she weighed her, took her temperature and blood pressure and recorded it in her chart. Terri remained in the room when Dr. Suzuki examined Louise to maintain the proprieties.[107]

Texas Ranger

(AFD)

When Vanessa Ferguson headed home to Los Angeles from Oklahoma City via I-20 in Texas, she encountered a Status Evaluation Control Checkpoint as the interstate approached I-10. She was forced to stop and justify her trip to a Texas Ranger. She argued she had lived her whole life in L.A. until she moved to Denver shortly before the eruption. Unimpressed, the Ranger demanded to know if she had family there to vouch for her story. She gave her father's telephone number who confirmed her story. The Ranger was surprised she was telling the truth and reluctantly let her proceed.[108]

Tim

(AFD)

Tim was a high school friend of Marshall Ferguson and like him didn't have regular employment. Unlike him, Tim didn't stay living in his parents home. Instead, he crashed at various friends' places and lived in his car until rising gas prices made it impractical. He did get together with Marshall at Lucas' father's place to play Diplomacy on weekends. While not the brightest LED in the flashlight, Tim did play a decent game and managed the difficult task of winning while playing Italy.[115]

During one session of Diplomacy, Tim pulled out a fat baggie of killer dope. After the the players partook, Marshall asked Tim where he scored it. After much giggling, Tim confessed he got it from Darren Pitcavage, the son of the San Atanasiopolice chief. Marshall got himself wasted hoping to forget so he wouldn't have to deal with this knowledge but failed. He reluctantly reported this conversation to his father who was a police Lieutenant with the same force.[116]

Elmer Towers

(E)

Prof. Elmer Towers was the chair of Bryce Miller's PhD thesis committee. While Miller didn't think it at the time, afterwards he realized Towers and the rest of the committee really did want him to pass and get his doctorate. The committee started Miller with some softball questions to loosen him up before moving on to the harder ones. As a result, he did well enough to get his degree.[117]

Unnamed Secretary of State of the United States

Used Car Sales Manager

(AFD)

Carl worked at a used car dealership in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma where his manager was a tough looking woman in her fifties. After the Yellowstone Supervolcano had erupted, the dealership fell on hard times since the residents had lost a significant amount of income and gasoline was very expensive and hard to come by. Carl was pleased to sell Vanessa Ferguson a used Toyota even if she drove a hard bargain. However, Carl got some back due to her having an expired Colorado driver's license. He went and got his manager who charged Ferguson an "out-of-state identity-confirmation fee" of a thousand dollars. Ferguson realized it was a bribe and that the smooth way the manager had demanded it suggested that she had done it before but had little choice but to agree to it. She did ask for a full tank of gasoline which Carl agreed to before the manager said anything. She did give Carl a flinty stare which made Ferguson think that he would have to pay for it from his share of the commission. While the manager finished up the paperwork (which didn't mention the fee), she sent Carl out to fill up the car.[119]

Victor

(E)

Victor was a portly, Hispanic TV reporter for a local station in the Los Angeles area. He attended the murder scene of Maria Peterfalvy and was part of the pack that mobbed Lt. Colin Ferguson. After Ferguson brought the reporters to order, he pointed first to Victor to ask a question. Victor asked if it was the South Bay Strangler inside to which Ferguson replied that no it was the murder victim, giving Peterfalvy's full name and then spelling it. Victor stamped his foot and pooched out his lower lip like a three-year-old and then clarified that he meant was it the work of the Strangler. Ferguson replied that they hadn't received lab results yet but admitted it fitted the Strangler's M.O. He then took questions from other reporters present.[120]

Virgil

(E)

Virgil was an auto mechanic in Garden City, Kansas when the Yellowstone Supervolcano erupted. Vanessa Ferguson tried to get him to go to her stalled car just outside town and tow it back but he refused, explaining he had enough work in town and that the ash in the air made it a fifty-fifty chance his truck would stall. As Ferguson spoke with him, she noted that he wasn't wearing a dust mask and was in fact smoking a Camel cigarette, leaving her to conclude he was a hick. He did direct her to a Red Cross refugee facility in a local high school.[121]

Walgreens Shop Clerk

(E)

When Vanessa Ferguson fled Denver after the Yellowstone Supervolcano erupted, she stopped in Pueblo, Colorado and bought swimming goggles and a packet of surgical masks from a clerk in a Walgreens. There had been three packets left, but the clerk limited sales to one package to a customer to allow for more people to get them. Ferguson was surprised but pleased to get the items at list price since she had been gouged for gasoline earlier.[122]

As Ferguson put on the goggles, she asked the clerk how much longer he would stay. He wasn't sure, but intended to stay at least a while longer, depending on whether things got better or worse. When Ferguson said things were not going to get better, he allowed that she might be right but in a tone that implied he didn't care about her opinion on the matter.[123]

Washington

(AFD)

The Washingtons were an African-American family of a mother with four young boys. They became refugees from the Yellowstone Supervolcano eruption and ended up in Camp Constitution. The boys were bored since there were no video games or TV and went wild with their mother giving up trying to keep them under control. When Vanessa Ferguson failed to provide sex to Micah Husak for moving her out of a tent with Loretta Baker and her three young daughters, he put pressure on her by moving the Washingtons into her new tent. After she relented, the Washingtons were moved out to a FEMA emergency trailer leaving Ferguson some measure of peace.[124]

Paul Werber

(TFA)

Paul Werber was a Certified Public Accountant, and the husband of Janine Werber.

Jack Winters

(AFD)

Jack Winters was a Police Sergeant with the Los Angeles police department. About a year after the Yellowstone Supervolcano eruption, Winters led a detachment of LAPD officers to the Braxton Bragg / 110 Harbor Freeway interchange in an attempt to divert a convoy of crude oil tanker trucks to L.A. for their department's eventual use. Various South Bay towns had done a secret deal to try to get the oil for their own sole use and set up a series of police escorts to prevent it being stolen. The interchange was the responsibility of the San Atanasio PD led by Lt. Colin Ferguson who had outfitted his own officers with M16s. Winters, carrying a shotgun, confronted Ferguson, but soon realized his officers were outgunned and was forced to back down. To add to his humiliation, Ferguson had his department's "Door-Knocker", an improvised armored car with a ram and mounting a full sized machine gun, advance on the blocking LAPD cruisers with every intention of shoving them out of the way.[125]

Ferguson didn't know Winters by name but ran into him at a police funeral for Officer McClintock, a Hawthorne PD policeman, killed in the line of duty two years later. Winters introduced himself and told Ferguson he wanted to punch him in the nose for what he had done and how he had humiliated him. However, after a brief contest of wills while shaking hands, Winters admitted Ferguson was just doing his job and didn't push things any further.[126]

Charlie Yamada

(TFA)

Charlie Yamada was the owner and operator of a Honda dealership in San Atanasio and a councilman for the city. After the eruption of the Yellowstone Supervolcano and the subsequent collapse of the world economy, especially that of the automotive industry, Yamada was reduced to selling Honda scooters. He also dealt in Segways, bicycles and tricycles giving rise to his new slogan "If it's got wheels, we'll deal!"

Yamada attended the reception held for Captain Colin Ferguson on his retirement, coming up to him to shake his hand and to congratulate him on his service to the city.[127]

When Yvonne served the burger, the patty looked like a patty but the bun looked like a hockey puck cut in half. Ferguson asked what went into the bun in distaste but Yvonne wasn't put off. She replied rye flour, oat flour, and a bit of wheat flour so it could rise some. They used whatever they could get and encouraged Ferguson to try it. She did, and while not up to pre-eruption standards, it was better than the MREs she had subsisted on at Camp Constitution.

As Ferguson ate, a man sat down beside her at the counter. Yvonne called him "Bron" and asked how he was, to which he replied "I'll do". When asked what he wanted to order, Bronislav Nedic pointed to Ferguson's plate and said he'll have what she was having.[128]